Operation Christmas Presence – Lock it, hide it, take it…or thieves will

Nothing brings a thief more joy than a car full of shopping bags and gifts. Most thefts from vehicles are crimes of opportunity and can be prevented.

To help prevent car prowlings during the holiday season, the Calgary Police Service, in partnership with the Alberta Motor Association, are once again launching Operation Christmas Presence.

This initiative focuses on reminding the public to keep purchases and other goods out of sight in their vehicles, giving thieves less of a reason to break in.

Along with an increased presence in several popular shopping centres and long-stay parking lots, officers will be talking to the public about theft from vehicles, and distributing placards reminding the driving public to lock it, hide it, take it…or thieves will.

Radio ads urging the public to remove items from their vehicles are also being aired on local stations.

The placards are free to the public and were created for vehicle owners to use as a prevention measure. They are intended to encourage vehicle owners to think twice about what they are leaving in their vehicles and to dissuade would-be thieves from needlessly breaking into or damaging a vehicle that has nothing of value in it.

Out of Stock and All Valuables Removed signs can be picked up at any CPS district office or AMA centre.

As well as the placards, Window Crasher Sale pamphlets and gift tags are being made available. All available material, including the radio ad, is available on the City of Calgary Newsroom.

From Jan. 1, 2013 to Nov. 30, 2013, there were 7,637 reports of thefts from a vehicle under $5,000 and 112 of more than $5,000. This compares to 7,931 reports of thefts from a vehicle under $5,000 and 142 of more than $5,000 during the same time period in 2012.